Deadly 'Detox' Ritual Using Kambo Frog Venom Sparks Warnings from Indigenous Communities

Several people around the world have died after participating in the ancient healing ritual known as kambo, which uses frog venom. This spiritual practice, promoted in Western wellness communities as a cure-all for conditions from anxiety to arthritis, has no scientific backing whatsoever.

In April of this year, British wellness coach Kristian Trend, 40, a cancer survivor, died after taking part in a "detox ceremony" involving kambo. Trend's mother has called for the practice to be banned. While buying frog venom for kambo is legal in the UK, it is not recognized as a licensed medicine. Several countries have already outlawed the practice.

What is kambo?

Kambo is an ancient shamanic healing ritual originating from traditional South American medicine, practiced by Amazonian indigenous tribes for centuries. The term "kambo" refers to the secretion of the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), which is applied to small burn marks on the skin during the ceremony. Experts say it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of kambo because knowledge of the ritual has primarily been passed down orally. The earliest written record of the practice dates to 1925. The monkey frog's secretion is actually used to kill or harm predators.

How kambo is performed

Kambo is an ancient spiritual and healing practice traditionally carried out by a specialized practitioner known as a shaman. The frog's secretion is collected and dried before the frog is released back into the wild. A heated stick is used to create a series of shallow burn marks on the skin, and the dried secretion is applied to these points. A bucket is often placed in front of the recipient to prepare for the common reaction of vomiting.

Toxicity of kambo

Kambo is considered toxic because it contains a complex mixture of biologically active peptides, including some that intensely stimulate the gastrointestinal tract causing nausea and vomiting, and others that directly affect the cardiovascular system, leading to rapid drops in blood pressure and fainting. Some peptides have opioid-like effects, altering breathing patterns and impacting the central nervous system. In severe cases, this combination can trigger sudden heart problems or severe organ toxicity, leading to death. Drinking large amounts of water before the ceremony, combined with heavy vomiting, can cause dangerous hyponatremia, leading to brain swelling, seizures, coma, and even brain death. Kambo also causes severe gastrointestinal cramping that can result in esophageal rupture and death.

Benefits and risks of the ritual

Kambo is known as a "detox" ritual, believed to cleanse the body and, in some traditions, enhance fertility, masculinity, and even bring good luck. It is also used to treat a range of conditions including addiction, Alzheimer's, anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, depression, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, infections, rheumatism, and vascular diseases. However, doctors say there is no scientific evidence to support kambo's efficacy. Documented side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, palpitations, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the lips, eyelids, or face, and even loss of bladder control.

Popularity and warnings

Over the past two decades, kambo has gained popularity in Western and Latin American countries, being adopted by wellness and alternative medicine communities in Brazil, Australia, the UK, and the US. Indigenous experts have warned against the use of kambo by non-indigenous practitioners. Yamanawa tribe chief Joaquim Luz has criticized the online sale of kambo and warned that using it without proper preparation or permission from indigenous communities puts people at risk.

Related deaths

At least six deaths linked to kambo use have been recorded worldwide in recent years. In 2008, a 52-year-old man died in Brazil after receiving kambo treatment. In 2018, a man in Italy died from an irregular heartbeat while undergoing kambo. In 2019, Australian woman Natasha Lechner, 39, died during a kambo ceremony for chronic back pain. In October 2021, Australian man Jarrad Antonovich died after kambo, suspected of a perforated esophagus due to excessive vomiting. In 2024, Mexican actress Marcela Alcazar Rodríguez, 33, died after ingesting kambo in a detox ceremony. In March of this year, British wellness coach Kristian Trend, 40, died after participating in the ritual.

Official response

A recent review in the medical journal Cureus concluded that kambo practice needs stricter regulation after identifying several cases of severe reactions and deaths. Brazil banned the sale and marketing of kambo in 2004. Chile prohibits the import of frog venom. In 2021, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) banned kambo use and classified it as a poison. Kambo is also illegal in the U.S., and in January 2025, the U.S. Embassy in Peru issued a notice advising American citizens traveling to Peru not to use it.